Technabob » electrical

Design Your Own 3D Printed Table Lamp

Technabob — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:00:53 +0000

Been thinking about a new lamp for your desk or side table, but can’t find anything particularly unique? I’d bet there’s a pretty good chance you weren’t thinking about having your lamp 3D printed. Judging from the looks of these cool 3D printed lamps, you definitely should consider it.

These lamp designs were created using i.materialize’s 3D printed table lamp kit, which provides everything you need to design and output your own 3D printed lighting fixture. The 3D table lamp kit includes a lamp base, dimmer, halogen bulb, a metal base and fittings to hold the shade in place. Using a provided design template for popular 3D modeling software (including free apps like Google SketchUp and Blender) you design your shade and upload your 3D file it for printing.

You can check out a number of example designs over on flickr, and read up on the design guide (PDF) before deciding to make the investment in one for yourself. And if it’s feeling like it’s a little over your head, you can always choose one of their nifty already designed lamps.

The 3D printed lamp kit sells for €199 (~$260 USD) over at i.materialize. Be sure to specify whether you need a U.S. or European plug when you order.

PossessedHand: I Swear I Didn’t Flip You Off

Range — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:06:43 +0000

PossessedHand is a device that will make your fingers move by themselves. It’s supposed to help you learn certain tasks that are complicated to learn. It was developed by researchers at Tokyo University and Sony.

PossessedHand consists of a pair of wrist bands that deliver mild electrical stimuli directly into the muscles that control your fingers, which is something that is usually done by your own brain.

The project initially started as a learning tool for people who want to play string instruments, but it could also help stroke victims regain some control of their affected limbs.

I’m betting Sony will put this to some use as a fancy game controller, where the game controls you. While many people think that Microsoft Kinect will do just fine, Sony still needs to figure out their own unique slant on things.

[via PhysOrg via DVice]

These Chocolate Bars Are Shockingly Unpleasant

Technabob — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:08:08 +0000

I don’t know what it is with cheap-o novelty makers and their insistence on making mock versions of everyday objects that intentionally jolt you with electricity. I suppose we can blame those old Adams joy buzzer tricks for inspiring such malevolent goods. So here we have the latest in a long line of nasty surprises – shock chocolate (say that ten times fast.)

And these aren’t just any shocking candy bars, nope, they induce “HAPPYNESS BECAUSE OF SHOCK.” Did they recently see that horrible Will Smith movie, or did they come up with that spelling all on their own? Either way, I can assure you that these battery-charged chocolate bars contain Golden Ticket straight to cardiac arrest.

Despite the fact that the product listing says “harmless shocking chocolate,” it goes on to say…

**NOT suitable for children under 14!
**NOT suitable for people suffering from epilepsy, heart disease, or similar illnesses!
**NOT suitable for pregnant lady!
**DO NOT taunt Happy Fun Ball!

Sorry, had to put that last one in there. If you’re really feeling mischievous (and your victim doesn’t fall into one of the above categories), you can get you rotten little hands on these over at Gadget4All for $6 (USD) a bar.

Thanks Shirt, I’Ll Never Look at Plugs and Sockets the Same Way Again

Lambert Varias — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:22:46 +0000

I know that the analogy isn’t that hard to imagine, but I had avoided thinking of it until this nameless shirt came along. So I’ll defile your minds as well!

What was seen, cannot be unseen. Now we’ll all feel dirty when we plug in our gadgets. Hell, “plug in” seems like a dirty phrase to me now.

I wonder if they like it when we stick a bunch of them into a power strip… aaaaaarrrg!!! Enough! Go buy this shirt at Go Ape Shirts for $18 (USD) until all of them are sold out! All of them!

[via Fashionably Geek]

Rechargeable Ship Runs on Battery Power

Range — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:59:43 +0000

I don’t know if this is that revolutionary, but for a moment I was impressed with the fact that this battery-powered ferry can travel about 80 km with 800 passengers on board.

IHI Marine United is the maker of this plug-in ship that is powered by lithium-ion batteries. This ship is called the Zero Emission Electric Propulsion Ship. I’m not surprised that it’s Japanese with a name like that.

The ship can recharge its batteries at the ports it visits. The design prototype will be 100 feet long and will carry 800 people, and the amount of electricity needed to power it is 200 to 300 times more than what’s needed for an electric car.

80 km, that’s about 50 miles, which isn’t that long, but it makes sense for a ferry that makes frequent, short trips to be powered by electricity. The company hopes to develop a commercial vessel by 2015.

[via FarEastGizmos]

Eneplug USB Charger Plug is Simple, Brilliant

Technabob — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:39:06 +0000

Why is it that Japan gets so many of the coolest gadgets long before we get them here in the states? While these compact USB chargers aren’t going to blow your mind, I certainly would like to get my hands on a few to throw into my travel bag.

The Greenhouse Eneplug may look like the decapitated end of a standard 110v AC plug, but instead of a power cord, there’s a USB jack. Simply plug in your rechargeable portable gadgets, and you’ll be charging them in no time. They come in a variety of colors and can handle any device that charges at the standard USB power level of 5VDC at 0.6A.

At this point, the Eneplug is available only in Japan, and priced at ¥980 (appx. $10 USD).

[via FarEastGizmos]

Microwave Zaps Fleeing Cars in Their Tracks

Technabob — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:53:41 +0000

Let me start by saying this — I need one of these. A new technology is in the works that can stop moving vehicles cars dead from a distance.

Pasadena’s Eureka Aerospace has developed high-power microwave-based system that can be fired at a specific car and kill its electrical system in an instant. The prototype system can fire a targeted 50 nanosecond burst from as much as 50 feet away, completely frying the target car’s electrical systems. If the company can raise the funding to optimize the technology, they think they improve the firing distance up to as much as 600 feet away.

Imagine the fun you could have with one of these. Why not shut down that a-hole who’s been tailgating you for the last 5 miles? Or better yet, take out that annoying guy on the train who’s been yammering to his buddies on his cell phone.

[via Discovery via SlashGear]